LITTLE GREBE.
being probably tin' attraction th it drew them to the spot". Pour or live young birds were taken about
the same time by a shrimper who was catching " hunters " f up one of the dykes running through the
marshes towards Slioroltaui harbour.
I ant aware it has been stated by some authors thai the Little Grebe can walk with ease, standing
at the same time upright and proceeding at a moderate pace. Though several have at limes come under
my observat ion squatting among the bright green grass on the spits of laud that extend into some of Hie
northern lochs, I never noticed the birds at a greater distance than three or four feet from the wafer.
On leaving or returning to their natural element, whether alarmed or of their own accord, they invariably
appeared to shuffle over the ground without raising the breast above an inch or two from the surface.
So plentiful were these birds some years back in the cast of Ross-shire that on one occasion, in April l^liP,,
f counted three pairs silling among the herbage within the distance of sixty or seventy yards from one
another. A couple that happened to be within range and were needed as specimens owed their lives to
the fact that a Mute Swan was sleeping quietly on the bank less than a yard beyond them.
I repeatedly came across the nests of this species among the dense cover at a small loch in Cromarty with
a Gaelic name 1 could never catch—a reed-grown stretch of mud and water a short distance to the south-east
of Loch Slyn. These birds apparently commenced breeding early in April, the full complement of eggs being
usually laid before the middle of the month. On the 27th of May, lSlil), having ascertained by previous
inspection that two or three broods had been hatched out, I was enabled by the help of an india-rubber boat
to thoroughly explore the reeds and stagnant pools as well as the whole of the open water. Tor several hours
no success was met with, and at length, utterly worn out by the labour of struggling ihrough these almost
impassable Swamps, T made myself as comfortable in the buoyant craft as circumstances would permit, and
sought rest aud refreshment while watching the actions of a pair of old birds that for some time had closely
followed my movements. After waiting for over an hour and finding that the Grebes evinced no signs
of taking their departure, I worked the boat suddenly in their direction, when a single downy youngster
was detected and speedily bagged by a small breech-loader. On turning to look round the pool on which
I had been brought np, two more were at once discerned floating perfectly dead on the water. These
must have dived below the surface during their ellorts to escape, anil having risen underneath the boat
would naturally perish by drowning, not possessing sufficient strength to free themselves from the inflated
cylinders surrounding the bottom. The tiny mites had evidently hut recently left the egg, their beaks
exhibiting a fresh rose tint tipped with a paler hue, the legs and feet being of a blue livid llesh.
On this loch the whole of the nests 1 met with were floating on the surface, moored among the
reeds, rushes, or tangled water-plants on the deeper and more open parts of the pool. At the larger sheet
of wafer known as Loch Slyn, aud distant only about half a mile, all I examined were connected with
the rank grass and other herbage springing from the banks.
• A SSsaSHB I Minna contained at MM a handful at those hwrihfc cream™,
t LSMl imiiir IT a ijicici of uraia thai nsawats bricki-h waicr.
G R E A T NORTHERN DIVER.
COLYMBVX GLJCIJLIS.
WHETHER it is admissible to state that the Great Northern Diver breeds regularly within the limits of the
British Islands appears to have puzzled many ornithological writers. Erom personal observations I cannot
give any opinion on the subject, having as yet been unable to devote sufficient time to thoroughly explore the
remote and lonely districts in which ibis interesting bird is supposed to lake up its summer-quarters.
Adults and immature, both in various stages of plumage, are to be met with at almost all seasons on the
saltwater seas, lochs, and firths surrounding our islands. Duriug early spring, autumn, and winter many
penetrate to the inland Highland lochs, tilths, aud rivers, as well as to the lakes, broads, aud estuaries of
the bnglisli comities. When unmolested. I frequent iy remarked I hat the juveniles were by no means suspicious
of danger, and paid little or no attention to those who merely watched their movements. The old birds,
however,are, in most localities, exceedingly wary, and, unless among the rocky islands olf the northern and
western coasts of the Highlands, where this species is seldom interfered with, offer few chances for observers to
study their habits, or to collectors to secure specimens.
In a most unexpected manner, a few years ago, I met w ilh an excellent opportunity for examining an
adult in magnificent plumage, at close quarters, off the north-east coast of Scotland. During my residence at
Tain, in Ross-shire, in the spring aud summer of lSlif), I frequently explored the Cromarty rocks, to take notes
on the Peregrines, Herons, Roek-l'igeuus, and other birds resorting to this wild and rugged range of cliffs.
Several cavities, just above high-water mark, are to be found in the face of the racks near Shamlwiek, and
having made myself cieuforlahle in one of these recesses, I was engaged in taking lunch in company with
a couple of keepers. The day was fine, with scarcely a breath of air to ruffle the waves rolling up the cliffs,
when suddenly, within five or six feet uf the small ledge on which we had taken up our station, a Great
Northern Diver skimmed up from the depths below to the surface of the water. The bird exhibited no signs
of alarm, and as we all kept perfectly motionless, it remained for several seconds intently gazing in our direction,
and then turning slowly and silently round, by the action of one foot, with the web expanded, the other foot being
backed, dipped quietly down and continued hs course for about eighty or one hundred yards before reappearing
on the surface. The colouring of the eyes of this fine specimen was remarkably brilliant, the iris being of a
bright crimson, sparkling with lighter rays of the same conspicuous lint around the pupil.
On referring to my notes for 1^7-, while shuttling on lliekling Broad and 11eighriin Sounds, in the ea-t of
Norfolk, during November aud December, 1 find these birds were seen repeatedly on those waters during the
winter, specimens in immature plumage having been obtained for examination on (ho 2sth of November and
on the lib and 11th of the following month. I only met with single birds, and all that came in view exhibited
the earlier stages of plumage assumed during immaturity. But few words arc necessary concerning the two
first, as both wen' secured without difficulty; the third, however, proved an exceedingly tough customer, and
after surviving charges from both punt- and shoulder-guns, endeavoured to avenge bis injuries by au attack at